The 12 surviving glaciers of Mexico – Neuf on Orizaba peak and three on Iztaccíhuatl – are about to disappear within five years, according to research from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Pushed by the increase in global temperatures and volcanic activity, the loss of glaciers threatens water supplies, Biodiversity and cultural heritage, have declared researchers. The second highest peak in Mexico, Popococatepetlhas already been without glaciers for over 20 years.
During a symposium on March 21 at UNAM entitled “glaciers, climate change and local management of water”, the volcanologist of Unam Hugo Delgado Granados explained that conservation is no longer viable due to a global warming.
“The balance line, where the accumulation of snow compensates for the melting, is now above 5,300 meters – higher than any Mexican glacier,” said the researcher of the Unam Geophysics Institute.
The three glaciers on Iztaccíhuatl, which cover only 0.2 combined square kilometers, only persist because they are sheltered in volcanic craters, he added.
“It protects them in one way or another,” he said. “But, freezing speaking, they should no longer be there.”
At an altitude of 5,230 meters (17,160 feet) above sea level, Iztaccíhuatl is the third highest mountain in Mexico. This means “white woman” in the Nahuatl language for snowy peaks that look like a sleeping woman, the sleeping volcano – who has not broken out for thousands of years – is about 55 kilometers south -east of Mexico City on the border of the state of Puebla and Mexico.
Its glacial mass recorded a loss of area of 20% between a 1964 study and another in 2005, representing a retreat of 10,122 square meters per year.
The nine glaciers named on Pico de Orizaba have suffered even more pronounced losses, such as Gran Norte losing up to 90% of its mass between 1958 and 2001, and the oriental narrowing of 50% between 2003 and 2018, According to studies.
Also known as Citlaltepetl (Nahuatl for “Star Mountain”), Pico de Orizaba measures 5,636 meters (18,491 feet), making it the highest peak in Mexico and the highest volcano in North America. Located on the border of Puebla and Veracruz, it has not broken out since 1846. Its Jamapa glacier, the largest in the country, covers approximately 9.1 square kilometers and provides vital fresh water to neighboring regions.
As of Popococatepetl – an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico – its glaciers have completely disappeared by 2001, their disappearance accelerated by eruptions.
Standing at an altitude of 5,426 meters (17,802 feet), Popocatepetl, “tuxedo Mountain” in Nahuatl, has been continuously active since 1994, emitting ashes, gas and occasional lava flows.
Also nicknamed “Don Goyo” for his association with Saint Gregory in the local tradition (Goyo is a diminutive for Gregorio), he is about 70 kilometers south-east of Mexico City, straddling the borders of Puebla, Morelos and Mexico.
The three volcanoes are in the trans-Mexican volcanic belt.
Historical photographs highlight retirement. An image of the 1920s watch Iztaccíhuatl and popocatepetl covered with snow; By 2018, only Bare Rock remained. That year, the Ayoloco glacier on Iztaccíhuatl was declared extinguished and marked with a commemorative plaque.
Retired glaciers pose significant challenges for neighboring communities, exacerbating water shortage in a nation already struggling with droughts and pollution.
Glaciers contribute approximately 5% the country’s freshwater supply, Ramiro López Aguirre, vice-president of the Mexican association for appropriate hydration, wrote in the newspaper El País.
Glacial retreat also disrupts ecosystems and prevents mountain peaks from absorbing heat.
“The glaciers reflect solar radiation,” wrote López Aguirre, “acting as a natural shield against excessive warming”.
A global scale, UNESCO reports that glaciers have lost 9,000 ice gigatons since 1975 – enough to cover Germany in 25 meters of ice – and have contributed to an increase of 2.7 centimeters of sea level since 1961. Nearly 2 billion people in the world are based on ice water for alcohol consumption, agriculture and energy production.
The temperatures that continued to increase – 2024 was the hottest year registered – nations like Argentina and Chile promulgated laws protecting glaciers from industrial activities such as mining.
However, Delgado argues that Mexico must focus on adaptation rather than preservation, because its 11 glaciers are already beyond savings.
“The question is no longer whether we can save the glaciers, but how to adapt to a world without them,” said Delgado during the discussion of the 96 -minute round table, which can be consulted on YouTube (If you wish, click “Settings” to configure self-translated subtitles in English).
In addition, the UNAM Global TV produced a two -minute video, “Melting glacier: the last call for action.”
With reports from The day,, Infobae,, The country And A global television
